“I was afraid that part wasn’t going to reach me. Thought it was strange, too, for I had been very explicit in my directions. I told the Saxton people to spare no expense so I got it in time. As it was a sort of test as to what you folks could do and meant lots of work for your shop in the future, I counted on the right work on time.”

The speaker unpacked the part. Ben knew something about machinery, and observed that it was a double eccentric with several complicated attachments. He recognized it as a class of work always given into his father’s expert hands. It was exquisitely turned, jointed and polished.

“Neat as the works of a watch, eh?” said Mr. Davis admiringly. “That’s what I call fine work.”

“My father always does fine work,” said Ben, with a tinge of pride.

“Oh, your father had a hand in this, did he?” questioned Mr. Davis.

“I think so—yes, I am sure of it,” answered Ben, inspecting the part. “I remember him mentioning it as something outside of the usual run, and wondering what it was to be used for.”

“It is a part of the machinery of my new airship,” explained Mr. Davis.

“Oh, say, is that it?” ejaculated Ben with great animation, and his eyes wandering to the open book[Pg 21] on the seat before him, he scanned with interest the outlines of an aeroplane.

[Pg 21]

“Pleases you, does it?” interrogated his companion.

“Immensely,” acknowledged Ben. “My father is the head mechanic at the Saxton works, and he is an inventor, too. He has got up any number of new improvements on the Estrelle car.”

“I would like to know him,” said Mr. Davis. “I am glad to know you. Let me see, what is your name?”

“Hardy—Ben Hardy.”

“Do you work at the Saxton plant, too, Ben?”

“No, sir,” answered Ben, “but I spend a good deal of my spare time there. Father works there, you see, and I like machinery.”

“How did you come to bring the machine part to me?”

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